USD Magazine, Fall 2001

might be lost among many stars at a bigger program, McGarry can almost assure him the chance to shine at USD. "I can cell chem they'll probably see more playing rime, and char educationally USD is better than the Ivy League," McGarry says. "Our professors do the teaching themselves, without grad assistants, and they pay atten– tion to che students. Thar's more important than football. " The strategy helps land players like senior Brian Luman, a standout defensive player from Oregon who has a chance to go pro. He could have walked on at University of Oregon, but

was never happy at the huge college. He transferred to a small school, then met McGarry, at the time the Toreros' defensive coach, and decided to come to USD. The year after Roth arrived in San Diego, Washing– ton State made it to the Rose Bowl, the highest-profile college game in the country. Although he could have played before 90,000 screaming fans, Roth says he pre– ferred the cozy confines ofTorero Stadium. "I chose Washington because chat's where the money was, but I based my decision about USD on where I would be happy," says Roch, who was recruited by the San

instead chose USD. "I thought

Banding together for the love of the game, the players all end up with 100 brothers for a season.

about what I wanted, and decided char I didn't care about

Education Firstii Football Secon Championship or nor, McGarry and his coaches - with three full-timers, the staff is among the smallest in the league - work hard every year to concoct a winning formula from a roster that can suddenly change. Unbound by scholarships, players may choose to drop football at any rime, so McGarry occasionally is faced with a hole that he must fill with a less experienced player. While firring the pieces together, the coaches compete for recruits with other elite univer– sities, including Ivy League schools char don't offer football scholarships but easily can out– spend USD on need-based financial aid. "I have zero difficulty selling the school and convincing students to come here," McGarry says. "But when we show up on the doorstep and cell these kids we wane them, they don't know if they can afford to come here." McGarry and his coaches combat the problem by going after the guys who want to get a good education - 25 Torero players have made the PFL All-Academic squad since joining the league - and a chance to play. When he recruits a top prospect, who The Test of Time 1• 1•1

whose hat I wore, as long as I could play," says Luman, who lase year earned First Team All-PLF honors. "I picked USD for the edu– cation, but the chance to start every game as a freshman was a big deal, too." Tim Roch '98 felt the same way. A kicker who earned a scholarship to Washington State University out of high school, Roch

Diego Chargers in 1998, didn't make the ream and now is part-owner of an RV sales– company in San Antonio, Texas. "I had the experience of a lifetime at USD; the cama– raderie of the team is something I still miss terribly." A select few Toreros do land a career in the big leagues. Mike Maslowski, who played

1182

1119

1973

USO brings back football as an officially sanctioned sport, competing in NCAA Division Ill. First-season record is 9-2-1 andToreros make only appearance in the NCAA postseason, los– ing to Wittenberg, 21-14.

Due to NFL strike, USO– Occidental College game is televised nationally, with renowned commen– tators Dick Stockton and Hank Stram calling the game. USO loses, 34-20.

Pioneers play first game, Sept. 29, against Air Force Academy, lose 46-0.

Pioneers play first and only game against San Diego State University, lose 42-12. At season's end, football program canceled due to budget constraints and inability to compete.

Renamed the Toreros, the

football team re-emerges as a club sport supported solely by student fees. Posts 5-2 record.

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